Japan is facing a rice shortage, which could cause prices to go up, leaving shelves empty.
Japan’s supplies are tight due to the government’s policy of paying farmers to grow less rice, combined with panic buying and a bad harvest last year.
Japan has released emergency reserves, but they are not hitting stores fast enough. The Ag Minister even resigned after making a comment about rice availability.
Some retailers are now turning to imports to fill the gap. Analysts say that as farmers age, Japan will need a long-term plan to fix its rice problem.
Related Stories
Global pork production is expected to rise in the first half of 2026, despite trade volatility stemming from shifting import policies and swine disease pressures.
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
Traders say that shift could eventually prompt the USDA to scale back soybean export projections, noting the outlook differs greatly for other grain commodities.
The changing political climate in America is leading to a drop in migrant crossings near the U.S.-Mexico border, where ranchers like Dr. Mike Vickers say they witnessed horrors from death to child trafficking.
STRAUSS CEO Henning Strauss joined us with a preview of “Meet Strauss: The Tool You Wear,” premiering live tonight at 7:30 ET — only on RFD Network and RFD+
USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg joined us with a recap of the Malaysia trade mission and a look at USDA’s broader trade strategy moving forward.